VW defies sales slump

Volkswagen has reported an 11.1 per cent rise in October sales over the same month last year.

Strong sales in Germany and China have driven the results, said Europe’s biggest car maker.

The group’s nine brands also sold a total of 5.32 million vehicles in the 10-month period from January to the end of October, a rise of 0.6 per cent over 2008.

"Overall developments are better than expected thanks to our market leadership in Germany, the growth markets of China and Brazil and to our young and environmentally friendly product range," sales director Detlef Wittig said.

However he warned that there would still be difficult times ahead for car companies.

“Global passenger car markets have not made a sustained recovery yet, so we are anticipating a particularly difficult and challenging year in 2010," he stated.